The first time you touched a Sphynx

[Catzzzmeow]

Having a nice quiet/lazy Sunday. We ordered dinner in and when the delivery guy came up to the door he said "Oh my God you have one of those cats." Babas was sitting on a windowsill. Hubby said yes. The kid said I never saw one in person. Hubby said let me grab one for you. The kid said "hold on I have to get my phone to take a picture," and ran to the car to get his phone. So we brought out Babas and Jouët...he was in heaven. It was an amazing moment for this young man and we saw it and felt it.

He started taking pics and I said touch one. He was so taken back. I love to see people's eyes light up when they touch a Sphynx for the first time. He commented on how different the 2 felt and engaged in good conversation. I think he has been looking at the breed a bit as he started to talk about temperament and he threw out some prices he thought they were.

I encourage all Lairians to not feed into the negative people and just be an ambassador of the breed. Do you recall the first time you touched a Sphynx? Please share your experience.


Patti

 

[Joanne]

I never felt a sphynx until I picked up Bella at the airport. She felt like suede, the other thing I was really excited about was that her head was small. So I thought I was getting a little kitten, but as you know when I took her out of the carrier, she was far from being a small kitten, she had a buddha belly and she still does. She was 12 weeks old when I got her.

I always get delivery people who comment on how they never thought they would see a sphynx in person and they get really excited. Sounds like you made the young man's day!

 

[Catzzzmeow]

@Joanne curious to see how many others never touched one until their Gotcha Day. Hubby and I went to several cat shows for years just to look. Most do not want you to touch their cats, but the Sphynx breeder at the local show encouraged us to pet her cats. That was all it took. That breeder who since has passed, was a true ambassador...she encouraged people to learn about the breed and encouraged nothing but positive thoughts around her cats.

Patti

 

[GoldHazel]

@Catzzzmeow I hope your dinner wasn't cold by the time you and Michael sat down to finally eat. LOL

I remember very well the first time I touched a sphynx:

It was 18 years before I got my first sphynx. Two of my three children, my husband and I went to Madison Square Garden to the cat show (behind the scenes) just because we wanted to do something different on this particular Sunday. We were actually in the market for a SHD soon, but again, just went to the show for fun.

We walked around and walked around. Commented on some of the breeds and so on. All of a sudden, I made a turn and THERE WAS A SPHYNX! I stopped in my tracks. I couldn't move. I stood there (not even near her yet, but couldn't move). I remember my thoughts which were, "Wow, if she had fur, she would be a calico! I never would have imagined that a cat's skin is colored like their patterns and colors!" Then I approached like if though I was in a trance. I just KNEW I had to touch her. I reached over and petted her back. OMG, I was IMMEDIATELY HOOKED...I was in awe. I KNEW that I was going to have one someday. I turned towards my husband and even said, "I AM going to have one of these one day when the time is right!"

I loved the way she felt. Like a chamois covered hot water bottle.

 

[Catzzzmeow]

@GoldHazel have been to several cat shows at MSG ...if you recall the breeder PM me...wonder if it is the same one. We saw her there many times...she has since passed.

Patti

 

[GoldHazel]

@Catzzzmeow the conversation with the breeder wasn't about her giving me info. LOL Instead, she SCREAMED OUT, "DON'T TOUCH MY CAT!!!" ... as I already finished touching her. I apologized and she turned her nose up and looked away. LOL How do you have a conversation with a person like that? Remember, this was 18 years before I got my first sphynx. So a very long time ago.

I have never in my entire life as of the age of 5 years old and above just reached out and touched anyone's pet without first asking permission. Something came over me when I saw this sphynx and I was in some sort of trance. LOL

 

[Hairless Blessing]

My older Sister got one and I went to see her.
I couldn't believe, the way, they, looked.
I had never even heard of them before.
I took her from my Sister's arms and she felt like a warm peach.
I was hooked like @GoldHazel I knew, then, I was going
to have one. I started looking. Found my Queen Prissy priss.
Fairly quick. I had no doubt, the Lord, had, her, to be born,
just for me. It worked to perfectly.

 

[lizzybether]

The first time my husband and I touch a sphynx is when we visited our breeders other location in Jaxsonville to pick up an kitty basket with all the must haves for our babies. It was only a few weeks ago. My husband got so tickled and giggled like a little boy the entire time. His face lit up like a christmas tree with joy! He has done that all day today as well. It was also the first time we had seen a bambino in person. We instantly fell in love and it made the wait for gotcha day almost even more unbearable... but, our girls are here and we can snuggle them all we want to now!

 

[Toa and Ross]

@Catzzzmeow great story! It's always so rewarding when you can let people meet and pet a sphynx, specially when they're curious like this boy.
And I love this thread, and I love reading about everybody's first time touching a sphynx.

Untill 2 years ago I was one of those persons who didn't have much up with sphynxes. Didn't think I would ever want a sphynx.
Then my dog died. Due to my work I couldn't get another dog. And I was allergic to cats. So now what? I found out that there were 3 breeds of cats that are for some people "non allergic". The first two are beautiful breeds...way too beautiful for me. But a sphynx? Mmmm no thanks I thought. Then I went to a cat show with a friend. Two sphynxes were there and one breeder said I could touch her sphynx. I reach out my hand....touched the sphynx and....bam! I was in love. I couldn't stop petting. The breeder laughed and said: I can forsee your future, you will have a sphynx in your house in no time. When I came home I did read everything about the sphynx breed I could. The next week I went to visit the breeder in her house and there they were: Toa and Ross. I played with them for an hour and made sure that, wheb they were ready to go to their new home, they were mine.

So from a "no sphynx, no thank you" to a "sphynx addict" only by petting them.

 

[GoldHazel]

@Toa and Ross wow, the breeder had some hidden fortune telling talents. Who knew? LOL Great story.

 

[Toa and Ross]

@GoldHazel the breeder looked in my eyes while I was petting her sphynx and saw I was in love. And with her knowing she had 5 kittens for sale she could easily tell my future.

 

[NinaGato]

That is so funny because I had a plumber out to the house last week and he just LOVED the cats. He asked to take a picture of Udo for his daughter.
When I was 19 I saw one at a cat show and was in awe. The one breeder was really nice and asked if I had touched other cats or had a cat at home. I said no. She said I could pet her cat. I just loved how warm it was. Well, then I was on the hunt for my own.
As it stands now I have been a main influence in five other sphynx being adopted by friends of mine. They really are like potato chips.

 

[GoldHazel]

@GoldHazel the breeder looked in my eyes while I was petting her sphynx and saw I was in love. And with her knowing she had 5 kittens for sale she could easily tell my future.

@Toa and Ross it was a form of hypnosis. LOL Is that even legal? LOL LOL

 

[Franksmom]

First time I touched a Sphnx was the day we went to the breeders house to look at Frank. Bob was scared to hold him, but once he did he wanted to take him home then and there I was sad that we had to wait 2 weeks until he was ready to come home. And a few months later we were back there picking up Lucille

 

[Toa and Ross]

@GoldHazel haha yes it sure was a form of hypnosis. Probably illegal. But I love the outcome. Worth every penny

 

[Sphynx Asylum Dad]

Ironically, I grew up not liking cats. My dad hated them with a passion, and a lot of that rubbed off on me. A few years ago my youngest, who is on the autism spectrum, was adopted by a stray cat- I was basically powerless to stop nature. @KansasSphynxMom had suggested Sphynx before and I was lukewarm to the idea, once our adoptee came into the house though, I began to relent. @KansasSphynxMom found a breeder, so we met to see kittens- as soon as I held one, I was hooked, and Hattie sealed the deal- tiny, soft, warm, just begging to come home. We paid a deposit and picked her up when she was ready. Followed shortly by her sister Sobe... And not long after- Raskol moved down from Canada to join the family. We absolutely adore our babies. Sadly, Cooper (the rescue fur-kitty) did not get along well with the nekkids, but he's with close friends and we see him from time to time. He's quite happy and VERY healthy (scares the dogs!). We wouldn't trade the Sphynx experience for anything. I cannot imagine life without 'em now- totally hooked!!!

 

[Sphynx Asylum Mom]

@KansasSphynxDad shared our first time we touched the lovelies so I wanted to share a story similar to @Catzzzmeow.

We have a large window across the front of the living room that looks out at the street, the babies LOVE to sit in the window sill and watch the birds and critters. I was sitting on the couch and a car went by and suddenly stopped and backed up. A woman started walking across my lawn to see the babies. I got up and look out and motioned if she wanted to see one. She shook her head "YES" very excitedly. I took Raskol outside to see here and she was just giddy with joy. She said she had always wondered what a hairless cat felt like and what it was like to own one. I explained some about them, including their expenses and care which can be hefty, but that we would not change it for the world. She thanked me over and over and apologized for bugging me. I told her that it was no worry at all and I was glad to share my loves and help educate people about this wonderful breed.
It warms my heart when we have experiences like this, which happens whenever we take them out anywhere.

 

[GoldHazel]

@KansasSphynxMom that is some story!

 

[Lickleone]

I first touched one at Breeder she only agrees if you can have one if you go to her house so she can meet you in person and you can choose kitten in person out of available ones so I got to touch her Kate and hot to touch kittens while playing with them while trying to choose one lol

 

[Xandria]

@Catzzzmeow -- great story and a great thread. Love to read everyone's response to this.

Our delivery people have all been very positive to the Sphynx -- to the point that they thought Max shrunk at one point (when we adopted Min and one person saw her instead of Max)! I've had to invite people in to touch and talk about them (all the while someone's pizza was likely getting cold... ooops).

As for my first time. I almost can't remember it clearly as I was more concerned about making sure Hubby interacted enough with the Sphynx so we could determine if his allergic response would kick into high gear or not from the exposure. We went to two breeders' homes in the area.

The first -- I do remember vividly walking in, seeing a Sphynx trot by and darn near falling over with such love for their appearance. We sat on the couch in the breeder's living room and were inundated with so many Sphynx -- a couple girls were in heat so we really got quite the view (OMG). I remember how friendly they were, and how hot and soft. It really was love love love at first sight. Hubby is a kitty magnet so he had them all over him LOL.

The second breeder -- we played with a number of Sphynx in one of the breeder's kitty rooms. I was so in love with the stud. His antics and behaviour were very youthful. He also was obsessed with sucking his own tummy roll... very loudly! I marvelled at all their different colours and just how soft soft soft they were. I knew then if I didn't adopt one I'd likely die.

Third time we visited Megan in Victoria to meet Vito and Odin. Megan explained and showed us all the work that needs to go into caring for a Sphynx. Because of our physical limitations this was a concern. But after watching Megan and reading so much here, I knew I could do it. Sadly, Hubby had a reaction (to this day we don't know if it was to Megan's nakeds or something else he came into contact with) and we thought that was it.

Time went by, and our chosen breeder posted pictures of her latest litter to facebook and I saw them. It was a Saturday night, our games night (on line gaming). I posted the picture to Hubby and friends. We all went to mush. And we all thought (the future) Max was the best one of the lot. Hubby told me to just do it. I contacted the breeder and "Max" was the only one available. It was meant to be.

Every day I am in awe with how they feel against my fingers, my lips, my cheek. I want to nuzzle Max and Min for eternity.

SIDENOTE: When introducing Max and Min to friends, I love watching peoples' expressions. Almost every person interacts with them as though they're made of fragile china. Dean and I encourage people to really touch, explore, pet, and play with them. We will even show off a little Sphynx slappin' (both Max and Min love a little butt slapping) and our friends are often, at first, shocked. Then they see the results... purring, murring, playing.

But nothing beats that initial eye widening, huge grin forming, response of someone touching a Sphynx for the first time.

It's fun to be an Ambassador of this amazing breed.

 

[GoldHazel]

@Xandria I totally enjoyed reading your story. Oh, and by the way, all of mine get butt patted and love it.